Breaker for metal items



Allg- 27, 1968 w. v. coRNET'r 3,398,903

BREAKER FOR METAL ITEMS INVENTOR /4//11 751 M cae/VE rr BYB Arron/E75 Aug. 27, 1968 w. v. coRNETT 3,398,903

BREAKER FOR METAL ITEMS f4 i l INVENTOR. WALTER l/. (ORA/E77' BYBJUUMQ@ Aug. 27, 1968 W. V. C :ORNETT BREAKER FOR METAL ITEMS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed NOV. 30, 1965 INVENTOR. Q@ WAL 75A K Com/Err *EN www *33mm Arron/5X5 United States Patent O 3,398,903 BREAKER FOR METAL ITEMS Walter V. Cornett, 2751 E. 11th St., Los Angeles, Calif. 90023 Filed Nov. 30, 1965, Ser. No. 510,487 19 Claims. (Cl. 241-185) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present application is directed to machines for destroying obsolete or wrecked metal objects such as motor blocks of large and small size. Basically, there is provided a turntable on which a vertically reciprocating hammer support is mounted. The hammer mount passes through a horizontal trunnion which is movable to cause the hammer to move vertically or to tilt to various angles. The turntable assembly may be shifted laterally for further positioning of the hammer.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a machine or apparatus which is relatively simple in construction, which is sturdy, is capable of flexible operation, and is adapted to quickly and effectively crush metal objects.

In practising the invention, there is provided a base on which the structure is mounted. It consists essentially of a turntable having mounted thereon centrally a horizontal trunnion. A vertical support or slide for a hammer or other tool for crushing metal bodies is mounted on the trunion passing through same and having means for vertically or angularly reciprocating the tool. The objects to be crushed are placed below the central portion of the turntable so as to be in direct line with the motion of the tool. In addition thereto, the mounting of the turntable and its operating elements are such that the combination may be moved laterally over a pair of spaced rails or tracks.

The invention is more fully described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings constituting a part hereof and in which like reference characters indicate like parts, and in which FIG. l is a top plan view of the mechanism of the present invention, some parts being shown in section;

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view thereof taken along line 2 2 of FIG. 1, some parts being shown in elevation;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. l, some parts being shown in elevation; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing part of the mechanism for rotating the turntable.

The base 1 of the structure has a disc-like member 2 along the periphery thereof and a cooperating spaced disc 3 secured thereto by bolts 3. A disc-shaped block 4 is interposed between elements 2 and 3 forming a recess 5 along the inner periphery of the assembled discs. Bolts 3 extend into disc 2 as shown at 6 in order to form a rigid unitary structure.

Turntable 7 has its outer periphery engaged in recess 5. An extension 8 projecting laterally from disc 2 is intended to hold an operators seat in a convenient position for viewing the operations and controlling the movement of the mechanism.

A pair of rails 10 and 11, located on opposite sides of the center line of the turntable, is embraced by safety braces 12 and 13. Thrust rollers 14 are mounted at the lower ends of braces 12 and 13. Rollers 15 are mounted in brackets 16, the upper ends of which are secured to the turntable. Rails 10 and 11 rest on thrust rollers 14 and are fixed to a permanent support at their ends. Rollers 15 which support the entire weight of the Patented Aug. 27, 1968 mechanism are mounted for rotation as shown at 18 in the frame formed by elements 12, 13 and 14.

A series of rollers 19 is mounted on stub shafts 20 in bearings 21 which are xed to disc 2 and permit the rotation of the mechanism within the recess 5.

Circular holder 23 has an external groove 24 carrying a loop of cable 25. One end of the cable is xed in bracket 26 mounted on the support and it has a threaded bolt extending to eye 28 formed by looping the end of the cable on itself and held by shackle 29. The cable 25 passes around the groove and around pulley 30 and is wound on drum 31 being anchored therein as shown at 32. Also on drum 31 is the other end of cable 25 which, as shown at 25', passes over pulley 32 and around groove 24 being anchored at 33. Sprocket or gear 34 secured to drum 31 passes around a corresponding sprocket 35 which is mounted on air motor 36 held by brackets 37.

Centrally of turntable 7 is a pair of bearings 40 and 41 as shown in FIG. 1, carrying trunnion 42 which is adapted to oscillate vertically. A pair of multiple leaf springs 43 and 44 is connected by anchoring plates 45, said leaf springs extending :as shown at 46 laterally from the trunnion, as shown more particularly in FIG. 3. The free ends thereof are connected together by plates 47. Stabilizing plates 48 secured to plates 47 are anchored at 49 on turntable 7.

The hammer or other tool is mounted on said trunnion. It consists essentially of a relatively vertical shaft 51 passing through an opening 42 in trunnion 42 and having the tool 52 mounted at the lower end thereof. Means are provided for guiding shaft 51 `Without: vibration consisting of a series of guide rods 53 braced by members 54 and passing through openings 55 in trunnion 42.

In FIGS. 5 and 6, there is shown the mounting of the breaker in such a manner that it may be pivoted to cover a relatively large area. This increases the flexibility and utility of the breaker. At one end 59 of rails 11, there is a column 60 having a pair of wheels 61 operated by a swing air motor 62 and resting upon concrete base 63. A reinforcing member 64 strengthens the structure. i

T-he other end 65 has a bearing 66 for a shaft secured to bar 67, which in turn is fixed on plate 68. A second plate 69 carries vertical shaft 70 constituting a pivot for the'breaker. Plate 69 is mounted on frame 71, which is bolted at 72 to concrete base 73. Turnbuckles 74 are provided to stabilize the structure.

The functioning is controlled by the engineer on seat 75 having in front of him hammer control valve 76 and pivot swing and carriage control valves 77. Compressed air enters the system through airline 78 reaching the breaker at 79 and connected to the control mechanism at 80. A hoist remote control valve 81 is adjacent to the engineers seat.

The operation of the machine is adequately controlled by the operator on extension 8. The several elements such as hydraulic or other rams and motors are not shown as they d-o not in themselves constitute a part of the invention, and such means are well-known in the art. The operator may cause turntable 7 to rotate on its base on rollers 19. Then he may cause the hammer or other tool to move vertically to impinge upon the metal body 55 to be crushed. He may have the hammer move strictly vertically or may tilt it on its trunnion 42 in one direction or the other in accordance with his knowledge and skill, to crush the body most quickly and eiliciently. He is also enabled to cause the entire assembly to move laterally on rollers 15 to further position the hammer with respect to the body to be crushed.

There are a number of advantages inherent in the invention. Experience has shown that even large motor blocks such as tractor or truck blocks may be broken up into chunks of proper size to go into a cupola for smelting. vThis has been done in a matter of a very few minutes. At the same time, the crank shafts and various gears remain intact because of the delicate control by the operator, and they may be reused. The oil pans were readily accessible and could be removed easily. C-opper and other metals from gaskets and other iittings were easily separated and recovered. The present machine makes it possible to sell the recovered metals at a price considerably higher than could previously be obtained from scrap metal produced by prior-art metal breaking machines. This was accomplished with a minimum of labor and expense.

The hammer is mounted on the turntable in such a manner that the operator may position the hammer or blade used as a tool to impinge upon the engine block with as great force as the operator wishes and also as little as he wishes since he has complete control of the tool. Thereby the time necessary for breaking up an engine block is greatly reduced. It has been found that even a very large motor block could be crushed and salvaged in not over l5 minutes. Since the operator has fingertip control, he has full vision of his work at all times and only a modest amount of experience will enable him to crush the body in the minimum amount of time with the maximum amount of salvage.

What is claimed is:

1. A breaker for scrap metal items comprising a fixed support, a pair of spaced horizontal rails mounted on said support, a turntable base supported by said rails, a turntable on said base and rotatable horizontally thereon, a hammer support mounted centrally of said turntable above and between said rails, a hammer below said turntable, a shaft secured to said hammer and extending upwardly through said turntable, a horizontal trunnion on said turntable through which said shaft extends, said trunnion being oscillatable to tilt said hammer, said hammer being adapted for vertical and angular movement, and means for rotating said turntable.

2. A breaker for scrap metal items according to claim 1 in which said base is mounted on rollers, the latter resting on said rails for longitudinal movement of said turntable and base.

3. A breaker for scrap metal items according to claim 1 in which said base is mounted on rollers, the latter resting on said rails for longitudinal movement of said turntable and base, thrust rollers in line with said support rollers and connected thereto, said thrust rollersy being in contact with the underside of said base and on horizontal pivots.

4. A breaker for scrap metal tems according to claim 1 in which said base is mounted on rollers, the latter resting on said rails for longitudinal movement of said turntable and base, a thrust brace depends from the roller mount.

5. A breaker for scrap metal items according to claim 1 in which said base is mounted on rollers, the latter resting on said rails for longitudinal movement of said turntable and base, a thrust brace depends from the roller mount and embraces each rail with a thrust roller held below said rail.

6. A breaker for scrap metal items according to claim 1 in which a plurality of pivot rollers are journaled on said base, said turntable resting on said pivot rollers.

7. A breaker for scrap metal items according to claim 1 in which a retainer on the periphery of said base has said turntable held thereby against accidental displacement.

8. A breaker for scrap metal items according to claim 1 in which a retainer on the periphery of said base has said turntable held thereby against accidental displacement, said retainer having a groove in Which the periphery of said turntable is held.

9. A breaker for scrap metal items according to claim 1 in which said base is mounted on rollers, the latter resting on rails for longitudinal movement of said turntable and base, thrust rollers in line with said support rollers and connected thereto, said thrust rollers being in contact with the underside of said base and on horizontal pivots, the surface of said base rollers extending slightly above the upper face of said base.

16. A breaker for scrap metal items according to claim 1 in which said rotating means includes a guide ring channel secured onto said turntable, a cable in said channel and propelling means attached to said cable.

11. A breaker for scrap metal items according to claim 1 in which said rotating means includes a guide ring channel secured onto said turntable, a cable in said channel and propelling means attached to said cable, the ends of said cable being attached to said turntable and the intermediate portion being wound on a drum.

12. A breaker for scrap metal items `according to claim 1 in which said rotating means includes a guide ring channel secured onto said turntable, a cable in said channel and propelling means attached to said cable, the ends of said cable being attached to said turntable and the intermediate portion being wound on a drum, and cable sheaves on opposite sides of said drum guiding said cable to and from said drum.

13. A 'breaker for scrap metal items according to claim 1 in Iwhich said rotating means includes a guide ring channel secured onto said turntable, a cable in said channel and propelling means attached to said cable, the ends of said cable being attached to said turntable and the intermediate portion being wound on a drum, and a motor operatively attached to said drum for rotating the same.

14. A breaker for scrap metal items according to claim 1 in which said rotating means includes a guide ring channel secured onto said turntable, a cable in said channel and propelling means attached to said cable, the ends of said cable being attached to said turntable and the intermediate portion being wound on a drum, and a motor operatively attached to said drum for rotating the same, said motor being actuated by compressed air.

15. A breaker for scrap metal according to claim 2 in which a spring arm has one end secured to said trunnion, the other end thereof being anchored to said base.

16. A breaker for scrap metal according to claim 1S in which said ann includes a pair of laterally spaced parallel leaf springs.

17. A breaker for scrap metal according to claim 16 in which the free ends of said springs are held together by an anchor plate, the latter being fixed on said base.

18. A breaker for scrap metal items according to claim 1 in which said breaker assembly is mounted for rotation about a vertical axis at one end of said base.

19. A breaker for scrap metal items according to claim 18 in which the other end of said base rests on wheels, and means for rotating said wheels to cause arcuate movement of said base.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 695,567 3/1902 Kuhn 241-101 2,613,923 10/1952 Cornett 262--13 2,497,682 2/1950 Mertz 241-270 GERALD A. DOST, Primary Examiner. R. J. ZLOTNIK, Assistant Exmnner. 

